Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk: Tire Spring Rates, Five Minute Clocks and Engine Temperatures with Justin Alexander for Michigan

Martinsville Cup Justin Alexander Spring 2018 Mike Neff (156)

Heading to the Irish Hills of Michigan will test the reflexes of everyone with the fastest racetrack NASCAR competes at during the season. The teams have quite a few different challenges facing them, with the track that is still holding onto the newness of the repave that happened several years ago. In this week’s edition …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Chase Elliott Cranks Up the Siren Again

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline After almost three years of trying, and eight near misses, Chase Elliott has finally scored his maiden win in the Cup series. Elliott won the second stage and the race while Martin Truex Jr. grabbed the win in the first stage. William Byron crossed the finish line in eighth to claim …

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Tech Talk: Mike Wheeler on Brakes, Pit Stops & Technical Inspection

2017 Kansas I CUP MIke Wheeler Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The challenges of road course racing are many and diverse. From pit strategy to suspension pliability and brake cooling, there are more options on the road courses than any other tracks that the series visits. This week, heading to Watkins Glen, the teams are looking at a track that is faster and less technical than …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Takes Another Gander at Victory Lane in Pocono

#18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's Caramel Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kyle Busch ran 25 races at Pocono Raceway and never finished above second before last July. After Sunday he has two wins in the last three races. Busch took advantage of trouble for Kevin Harvick on pit road and then held off teammate Daniel Suarez on late-race restarts to claim his …

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Tech Talk: Speed Down the Straights of Pocono

Justin Alexander Cup 2017 Charlotte Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men are blown up by the slightest mistake. That happened last weekend to the No. 3 of Austin Dillon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, when a late-race loose wheel upended its strong run. Crew chief Justin Alexander hopes to have his ducks in a row this weekend, as …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: The Magic Mile Puts on a Show as Kevin Harvick Scores 6th Win

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Beer celebrates after winning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Momma, there is that man again. For the sixth time this season, Kevin Harvick made the right moves down the stretch to garner him the track position that he needed. He capitalized on that good fortune to make a late race bump and run to move from deep in the field …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Pummels the Competition in Kentucky

#78: Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing, Toyota Camry Auto-Owners Insurance celebrates Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Martin Truex Jr. doesn’t need to look for vacation property in Sparta, Ky. because he already owns Kentucky Speedway. Truex won the pole, both stages and the race in a second straight commanding performance at the track. The only difficulties Truex had during the evening were his car slipping out of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Erik Jones Dips & Dives to 1st Career Victory at Daytona

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Erik Jones survived the carnage Saturday night (July 7) at Daytona International Speedway. That included eight cautions in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 which involved incidents, including one that gave him damage. But Jones came back from a lap down, breezing through the draft and scored his first career win. Ricky …

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Tech Talk: Tony Gibson & Daytona Downforce, Air Flow & Spoiler Angels

Tony Gibson Daytona Post Race Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Racing leaves one team happy and the rest wondering, “What if?” Last Sunday (July 1) at Chicagoland Speedway, that couldn’t have been more true for the Stewart-Haas Racing teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, as they all led the race and were among the best cars on track all day but weren’t anywhere …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Wins Street Fight With Kyle Larson on Final Lap in Chicago

#18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Skittles Red White & Blue celebrates after winning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson are in the headline for producing a fantastic finish to the Overton’s 400. Larson slid into the side of Busch and bounced him off of the wall in Turns 1 and 2. Busch returned the favor to Larson which resulted in a huge slide through Turn …

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